There is nothing like carelessly frolicking in the sun during the summer. As summer progresses however, avoiding sunburns and sun damage becomes increasingly important. Many people like to avoid repeatedly applying thick layers of sunscreen to much of our bodies multiple times throughout the day. It can also be hard to know which sunscreen is safest, with countless products available on the market today. Although concern about skin cancer and damage has grown in recent decades, vitamin D deficiency is also an important health issue. Lack of sun exposure can cause vitamin D deficiency, with numerous associated health risks.

There are no simple answers to the complex topic of preventing sun damage, enjoying the sun, and overall well being. A balance of spending some time in the sun to enjoy the great outdoors and absorbing some vitamin D is important, while also avoiding excessive sun exposure and damage.

Here are some tips and helpful hints in finding the right balance between carefree fun and healthy living.

​I love to make and drink my own DIY kombucha. Kombucha is a fermented beverage with lots of beneficial live bacteria, b-vitamins, and antioxidants. I personally enjoy its sweet tangy taste, and the little pick-me up that it gives. It comes a wide variety of flavors and is available in most health food stores, and occasionally in restaurants or cafes.​Kombucha consists of sweetened tea that is then fermented with scoby, a symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast. Although it is relatively new to the West, kombucha was called the “Immortal Health Elixir” in ancient China for its reported ability to prevent cancer, arthritis, and other degenerative conditions. This beneficial beverage has been used for over 2,000 years and has become popular in the United States in recent years.

​Many of us insulate our homes to save money, increase comfort and help the environment. It only seems logical that retrofitting houses to use less fossil fuels would also help combat climate change, right?

Sadly, the opposite is true when certain types of rigid foam insulation are used. Many builders and consumers seem largely unaware of the issue, helping it to persist.

​“Putting up blue board insulation all over a house is worse for the climate than not insulating at all,” says Jonathan Fulford, president of Artisan Builders and a candidate for the Maine Senate. “It is actually better to have no insulation and to just crank up the heater and the air conditioner because of the global warming potential (GWP) of many types of home insulation.”